The Barn, Thursday Morning

[bigdamndestiny]

With the puppy still in the process of learning not to piddle indoors, Merlin found himself down in the barn all night to keep her company rather than clean up in the morning. It was actually rather warm even in the cool of the night. All the horses, after all.

And a puppy that decided to sleep curled up on his back.

"Brynne, you're going to make me unable to walk if you do that again," Merlin grumbled, giving her an annoyed look.

[[For one]]

Comments

[bitchprince]

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to find you outwitted by a dog," Arthur said, conversationally, as he found his way into the now-open doorway of the barn.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Of course not, sire," Merlin replied, eyes down as he picked up his blanket.

[bitchprince]

He pursed his lips. "So were you planning to come in to work at all?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin looked up once, meeting his eyes evenly. "You had things well in hand, my lord."

[bitchprince]

Arthur ignored that (or at least faked it fairly well) and stalked into the barn, towards Merlin, and the puppy. "Spoiling him again, are we?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin rubbed his forehead for a moment. "She cries when left alone at night."

[bitchprince]

"That's how they learn," Arthur pointed out, squatting down by the pile of manservant-and-puppy. "Are you still going to sleep by his side when he's the size of his name?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"She won't be afraid then," Merlin replied, petting her once.

[bitchprince]

"S-- He will be if you keep encouraging him," Arthur said, and held his hand out for the pup.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Leaving her afraid and alone isn't right."

[bitchprince]

Why not? It was Uther's favorite method.

Rolling his eyes as the dog sniffed his fingers, Arthur remarked, "He'll stop being afraid and alone once he survives to get self-sufficient."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin shot him an annoyed look. "It's cruel. She doesn't know any better."

[bitchprince]

"So she-- he should learn the rules. You can't comfort everyone through their worst days."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"And you can't pretend it doesn't cause them pain because it's convenient for you."

[bitchprince]

Arthur rolled his eyes, but said no more. "Am I going to have to pick you up from the stables every morning, now?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Why? Does your bed need to be changed again?" Merlin snapped, standing up.

[bitchprince]

Oh, now that was nice. Arthur took the blow with only the slightest twitch of a wince, and wondered why he even cared.

"My bed is fine," he said, "If that dog still can't sleep alone at night within a month, however, I fear for it."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's not as though her master does," Merlin muttered under his breath. "I will be there this evening to care for your needs if that is why you are here."

[bitchprince]

"I came here to find my errant manservant and perhaps go for a ride," he said, idly, patting the dog's head. He wasn't quite stretching upright yet, keeping a careful eye on Merlin.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Servant found. Shall I prepare a horse for you?"

[bitchprince]

"If you think you're actually capable of it."

Maybe a tad bitchy. But only because he didn't know what bloody else to say.

"Merlin..."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Don't," Merlin said, voice lower and more dangerous than thought possible for someone so scrawny.

[bitchprince]

There was... some small amount of staring. "You do remember that you don't get to tell me what to do, do you?" He wouldn't have bothered if that didn't sound dispairingly like Merlin was trying to threaten him, but.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I can not do this now," Merlin said tightly. He was wound up like a bow string and he was terrified of where this tension could go.

[bitchprince]

"Are you threatening me?" Arthur asked him, sounding a little incredulous.

He wasn't, all things considered, the best in the world at being terrified of Merlin, even if he did wield impossible forces that could if his father were to be believed send the entire kingdom up in a cloud of fire, or something.